The Shadow and the Star – Victorian Hearts, Book 2

By: Laura Kinsale

Narrated by: Nicholas Boulton

Length: 16 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

In defense of her honor, innocent Leda Etoile has burned all her bridges and taken refuge in her tiny attic room in a shabby boarding house in London. But her last safe haven is invaded when she wakes to find a man hidden in the dark - a man with golden hair and the face of a fallen angel, who moves in the night like a shadow.

Will he be her savior, or her ruin? Samuel Gerard draws her inexorably into the richest circles of aristocratic England. But even as Leda falls in love with a man she can never have, she must keep his secrets. Though everything about him is shame and illusion, this shadow warrior desperately desires what only Leda can give him - absolute love, and the truth about himself.

The incredibly successful pairing of Laura Kinsale and Nicholas Boulton has been honored once again, winning a THIRD Earphones Award from AudioFile Magazine, this time for The Shadow and the Star. Sweeping listeners from the jubilee parades of Park Lane to the flower-scented breezes of Hawaii, Boulton brings this beloved Kinsale classic to memorable life.

©1991, 2005 Hedgehog Inc (P)2013 Hedgehog Inc

East meets West in Victorian times

If you could sum up The Shadow and the Star in three words, what would they be?

True love forgives

What did you like best about this story?

This story mixes my love for Victorian England with my love for Japanese culture. Kinsale's heroes are all driven men who are in need of redemption. I love the way her heroes are flawed, either emotionally or physically, and are always ultimately redeemed by love.

Which scene was your favorite?

The first tender encounter between the two lovers.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

An American Ninja in Victorian times

Any additional comments?

The narrator was INCREDIBLE! He could do French, Japanese, English, Hawaiian, and American accents perfectly, as well as actually speaking French, Hawaiian and Japanese.

A charming and unusual story

I am rapidly becoming a huge Laura Kisale fan. This book, like the others I've read, has very interesting characters in a totally unique plot. Samuel is an English gentleman who is also gifted in Japanese Martial arts, and Leda has been raised as a foundling by her very proper Aunt to be a very proper lady. The developing intensity between these two very different characters reveals a deeply shared and surprising understanding and trust. The story of two people coming together from opposite ends of the cultural world is truly enchanting, and the narrator brings it all to life with his adept rendering of various accents, including Hawaiian and Japanese. There are times when it is a bit difficult to grasp the zen-like narration of Samuel's education, but stick with it. It all makes sense and ends up in a lovely story.

Better than Book 1

This is the second of the Victorian Hearts books. Lady Tess and Lord Gryffin have adult children of their own now, and have also become foster parents to the boy Tess met during her short first abusive marriage. The story follows that boy, Samuel, as he grows up with the family in Hawaii. The romance centers on adult Samuel and a woman he meets in London. Parts of this story were so far-fetched I couldn't even follow them -- especially the whole business with the sword and the scene on the boat near the end. The romance, though was good. I loved both the main characters. The narrator is excellent except for his American accents. They're terrible! Too bad Samuel and Kai were supposed to have an American accents.

Love love love

This book started off a little slow but is totally riveting after the first few chapters. Samuel and Leda are both so very lovable. The first sex scene was STEAMY. I found it hard to follow what exactly happened in the climax so I will need to reread with a translation. Worth the credit for sure!

Confusing

This was the most difficult book to stay with.
The story jumped from person to person, past to present. There was no lead in.
I kept hoping something would turn out well!

Who's the Villain?

This seems like one of those stories that was written because the author was interested in a particular historical time and place and built the story around that, rather than having a great plot idea first and crafting everything else to support the plot. As a result, the story doesn't have a clear or consistent villain/challenge. First it's the nasty landlord and police, then it's the baby, then it's Kinokawa. Just when you're getting invested in characters overcoming a challenge, it conveniently disappears to be replaced by a new random challenge. Because of that, this story lacks the strong suspense and investment in the storyline that I generally love about Kinsale's books.

That said, a 3/5 Kinsale story is still leagues better than almost any other historical romance out there for me. Her character development, details, and dialogue are engrossing.

I love these two

How many times can this author and narrator write and read a great book. they are what Michael Angelo is the painting what Muhammad Ali is to boxing what Prince and Michael Jackson are to entertainment....amazing! !!!

Continue to be the 'gold standard' for me in audio

The author/narrator combo of Kinsale and Boulton are just too great to describe as anything but the gold standard! I save these books for when I want to listen to something outstanding. I am never disappointed. This is another wonderful story of two lives coming together through very unusual circumstances. I love the way this author takes you right into the mind and heart of the characters. Leda with her prim and proper ways, combined with Samuel and his dark side, it is just so excellent. And the narration, the different voices, accents, once again just makes the experience. Would give 10 stars if I could. And can't wait to savor another one by this author and narrator.

Another Great Adventure and Supreme Performance!

THIS right here... is why Laura Kinsale is an auto-buy author for me. The pairing of her writing with the excellent narration of Nicholas Boulton is always beyond pleasing. I think they have to be one of my favorite (out of my top three) audiobook author/narrator teams. This story and the adventure it will take you on is so worth it! And seriously... is there NO accent that Mr. Boulon CAN'T do? The man is truly an artist. Love it.

A well written stupidly plotted story.

Weak and foolish women seem to be necessary to this genre of books. One sort of wished the female protagonist was eaten by sharks to give the story a touch of humor. I stopped reading half-way through, but then gave into the fact that I couldn't get my credit back, continued to find that she has gotten stupider and stupider. A very good narrator.